In order to run an organization well, it is useful to write a Policy Plan (Beleidsplan). Whatever organization I have. With a Policy Plan I indicate where my organization is going in the next 3 to 5 years for both the employees of the organization and the outside world. A policy plan consists of the following parts:
Current situation
Mission
Vision
Goals
Strategy
Future
Management.
In this section I outline how the organization stands at the moment. When it was founded, for what purpose and what has already been achieved in short. Optional are the founding, major changes, successes and particularities.
The Mission is the most important part of the Policy Plan, but also of the organisation. The Mission sets out the main reasons for existence and main principles. It is important to formulate the Mission as short, concise and clear so that it is clear to everyone what the organization stands for.
The Vision takes a look into the future and indicates where the organization wants to be in a few years time. The Vision focuses on short and medium term goals. The Vision often also contains the norms and values of the organization.
SMART is often used to draw up the Objectives as clearly as possible. SMART stands for:
S –> Specific: This means that the objectives must be formulated as concretely as possible
M –> Measurable: It must be measurable, for example with Databeet the number of new customers acquired through the Databeet brand awareness campaign
A –> Acceptable: Acceptable means that there must be support both internally and externally. Think of customers, employees, volunteers and target group
R –>Realistic: The objectives that are devised must be attainable and not be boulders in the air. An example of a non-realistic target would be that Databeet could serve Microsoft, Google and Apple as customers in the same year
T –> Time-bound: A policy plan is for a maximum of 3 to 5 years, so the objective must also be attainable within this period
With the Strategy I arrive at the implementation of the objectives. It is best to write out these objectives in Project Plan or Annual Plan, so that it becomes clear how they will be approached in order to be achieved. In the Policy Plan, I briefly mark the implementation of the objective for each goal again under strategy.
In this part I write about the plans I have with my organization the comming 3-5 years. This is important for stakeholders and investors because they than know in what they are investing and how they can hold the organization acountable for their goals.
All organizations with more than 1 person have a management, the titles and their function could differ. However, for Associations, NVs and Foundations they have to have a board. Ideally, a board consists of 5 members. The most common board positions are:
Chairman
Treasurer
Secretary
Board member
Board member
If I include these components, I have a good Policy Plan that can last for a number of years. It seems so easy to read and so squeaky, but it isn't. Take the time to formulate the Mission, Vision, strategy and objectives as well as possible, so that no disagreements can arise later on where the organization is going.
With these tips my policy plan will be even better:
Take my time
Hire someone if I don't succeed due to lack of time or lack of knowledge
Renew my plan every 3 to 5 years
Create support within my organization for my policy plan, then its implementation will be easier
When implementing parts of the policy plan, make an Annual Plan or Project Plan.